Students promote and discuss the Global Lead progam at the study abroad fair.
Over 3,000 students browsed the programs at the study abroad fair this year. By: Sloane Wimberly
Despite the economic downturn and decrease in number of students studying abroad, UGA students still show an interest in pursuing educational opportunities overseas.
The 25th annual University of Georgia Study, Work & Travel Abroad Fair had a great turnout on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1.
“There were over 3000 students and there was very good feedback from program directors,” said Kasee Laster, the director of study abroad at the University of Georgia.
In the grand hall of the Tate Student Center there was a mixture of university-hosted, affiliate, and exchange programs, mingled with all sorts of external abroad programs. Last year 2,735 students attended the study abroad fair. This is one of the big events the Office of International Education hosts to promote studying abroad.
Although UGA’s numbers for students who studied abroad during 2008-2009 are down, they still mirror national trends.
“UGA is 5th in the country [for number of students who study abroad] and has the highest number of students studying abroad in the SEC,” Laster said. New York University is the number one school sending students abroad.
Laster said she does not have the final number of students who studied abroad in 2008-2009, but preliminary figures show that around 1985-1990 students studied in other countries. This figure shows about a 5 percent decrease from the previous year. These figures only reflect students receiving transferable credit while abroad.
Since 1998-1999, when there were 902 students who studied abroad, the number of students participating in a study abroad program has increased every year until now. Laster said she was not too worried because this is a national trend and not solely for UGA.
"This is the first time the numbers [of UGA students studying abroad] have gone down--ever," Laster said. "Not even after 9/11 [did the numbers decrease]."
The Forum on Education Abroad, a global membership association with 373 institutions and organizations that together represent 90 percent of the students that study abroad, conducted a survey of their members between Aug., 24 and Sept., 4, 2009. According to the survey, 110 of 165 respondents reported that the global economic crisis has negatively impacted their programs abroad.
Lucy Weathers, a junior from Charleston, S.C., studying finance, went to China through an UGA program last May. “My teacher said the trip was like a third of the size it usually is, because of the economy,” Weathers said. “I would definitely recommend the program; I can already see how it is helping me in my finance classes.”
UGA students can choose from 100 faculty-led group programs including a winter break trip to Antarctica, however, this opportunity is only offered every other year. There are 24 non-traditional programs where UGA faculty arranges internships or independent research. Students may also opt to go on one of the 50 exchange programs UGA is partnered with. Students may also choose to study through an external program.
The cost depends on the program duration, type, and whether the student is an in state or an out of state resident. Costs for a semester can range from $14,015 to $9,726 excluding HOPE.
Laster said she believes as the economy turns around, the rapid growth that study abroad programs have experienced will return. For now, the numbers are stable.
Brett Byrnes is a study abroad advisor at the University of Mississippi and represented the school’s programs at the UGA fair. To generate interest in their programs, a representative will attempt to travel to all the SEC schools to feature their programs. He has also traveled to Spain and other countries to promote the University of Mississippi.
Exchange programs with foreign institutions are popular at the University of Mississippi, which is focusing on internationalizing its campus. In order to do this, their abroad office has worked to establish exchange relations abroad-- so their students can go study overseas for the same cost as their regular tuition at the University of Mississippi.
“We collectively try and develop new relationships,” Byrnes said.
Byrnes said their abroad office has been concerned about the economy affecting their students’ ability to study abroad, but they have seen an increase in participants in some of their programs.
“When a student’s tuition is $5,000 at the university, and $5,500 to study in Spain--why not?” Byrnes said. He also said the study abroad office offers a certain number of need- based scholarships up to $1,000 for airfare.
Mary Claire Attaway, a UGA junior majoring in romance language from Dallas, Texas, has always envisioned studying abroad during her college career. Determined to be in Valencia, Spain, for her spring semester, she has not let the economy alter her plans.
“I have been so determined to study abroad, that I set back some money over the past three years in order to do so,” Attaway said. “My parents helped as much as they could considering how much they encouraged me to study abroad in the first place.”
"It's disheartening, but one of my friends who was dead set on going to France couldn't, due to the economy. It's terrible that she can't study what she loves, because of our country's economic situation.” Attaway said.
Attaway is unsure where she would like to be after college. She would like to work with a company concerning international business, and she said hopefully her time in Valencia will help her achieve just that.
The 25th annual University of Georgia Study, Work & Travel Abroad Fair had a great turnout on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1.
“There were over 3000 students and there was very good feedback from program directors,” said Kasee Laster, the director of study abroad at the University of Georgia.
In the grand hall of the Tate Student Center there was a mixture of university-hosted, affiliate, and exchange programs, mingled with all sorts of external abroad programs. Last year 2,735 students attended the study abroad fair. This is one of the big events the Office of International Education hosts to promote studying abroad.
Although UGA’s numbers for students who studied abroad during 2008-2009 are down, they still mirror national trends.
“UGA is 5th in the country [for number of students who study abroad] and has the highest number of students studying abroad in the SEC,” Laster said. New York University is the number one school sending students abroad.
Laster said she does not have the final number of students who studied abroad in 2008-2009, but preliminary figures show that around 1985-1990 students studied in other countries. This figure shows about a 5 percent decrease from the previous year. These figures only reflect students receiving transferable credit while abroad.
Since 1998-1999, when there were 902 students who studied abroad, the number of students participating in a study abroad program has increased every year until now. Laster said she was not too worried because this is a national trend and not solely for UGA.
"This is the first time the numbers [of UGA students studying abroad] have gone down--ever," Laster said. "Not even after 9/11 [did the numbers decrease]."
The Forum on Education Abroad, a global membership association with 373 institutions and organizations that together represent 90 percent of the students that study abroad, conducted a survey of their members between Aug., 24 and Sept., 4, 2009. According to the survey, 110 of 165 respondents reported that the global economic crisis has negatively impacted their programs abroad.
Lucy Weathers, a junior from Charleston, S.C., studying finance, went to China through an UGA program last May. “My teacher said the trip was like a third of the size it usually is, because of the economy,” Weathers said. “I would definitely recommend the program; I can already see how it is helping me in my finance classes.”
UGA students can choose from 100 faculty-led group programs including a winter break trip to Antarctica, however, this opportunity is only offered every other year. There are 24 non-traditional programs where UGA faculty arranges internships or independent research. Students may also opt to go on one of the 50 exchange programs UGA is partnered with. Students may also choose to study through an external program.
The cost depends on the program duration, type, and whether the student is an in state or an out of state resident. Costs for a semester can range from $14,015 to $9,726 excluding HOPE.
Laster said she believes as the economy turns around, the rapid growth that study abroad programs have experienced will return. For now, the numbers are stable.
Brett Byrnes is a study abroad advisor at the University of Mississippi and represented the school’s programs at the UGA fair. To generate interest in their programs, a representative will attempt to travel to all the SEC schools to feature their programs. He has also traveled to Spain and other countries to promote the University of Mississippi.
Exchange programs with foreign institutions are popular at the University of Mississippi, which is focusing on internationalizing its campus. In order to do this, their abroad office has worked to establish exchange relations abroad-- so their students can go study overseas for the same cost as their regular tuition at the University of Mississippi.
“We collectively try and develop new relationships,” Byrnes said.
Byrnes said their abroad office has been concerned about the economy affecting their students’ ability to study abroad, but they have seen an increase in participants in some of their programs.
“When a student’s tuition is $5,000 at the university, and $5,500 to study in Spain--why not?” Byrnes said. He also said the study abroad office offers a certain number of need- based scholarships up to $1,000 for airfare.
Mary Claire Attaway, a UGA junior majoring in romance language from Dallas, Texas, has always envisioned studying abroad during her college career. Determined to be in Valencia, Spain, for her spring semester, she has not let the economy alter her plans.
“I have been so determined to study abroad, that I set back some money over the past three years in order to do so,” Attaway said. “My parents helped as much as they could considering how much they encouraged me to study abroad in the first place.”
"It's disheartening, but one of my friends who was dead set on going to France couldn't, due to the economy. It's terrible that she can't study what she loves, because of our country's economic situation.” Attaway said.
Attaway is unsure where she would like to be after college. She would like to work with a company concerning international business, and she said hopefully her time in Valencia will help her achieve just that.
Edited by Austin Pratt
A ton of good information in this story. A little tightening and synthesizing would help bring the length down a bit. The new student does help the story, because she supports the argument that the economy has affected participation. The numbers you need are all there, but some come too far apart from each other. The comparison of students attending this year's study abroad fair versus last year's should have both numbers in the same sentence. And you don't need to tell us turnout was "great," just tell us it was a record (if it was).
ReplyDeleteLook up style for numbers so you know where to put commas to help people avoid confusion between what's a number and what's a calendar year (see the seventh and eighth paragraphs).
One source who could be tightened up is Brett Byrnes. It's nice to have him here, but he's tangential to the UGA story and goes on a bit too long.